Stenting for Benign Airway Obstruction

Do airway metallic stents for benign lesions confer too costly a benefit?

“…Our study is limited by its retrospective nature and is best viewed as a single tertiary referral centre's experience in managing a cohort of highly symptomatic and ill patients. Surgical reconstruction, especially of the trachea, can be technically challenging, and may of itself lead to anastomotic dehiscence and re-stenoses [ 23 ]. Kabbani et al [ 23 ] suggest that stent placement can be an attractive alternative even in benign airway obstruction for these reasons.…”

“…Surgical reconstruction, especially of the trachea, can be technically challenging, and may of itself lead to anastomotic dehiscence and re-stenoses [ 23 ]. Kabbani et al [ 23 ] suggest that stent placement can be an attractive alternative even in benign airway obstruction for these reasons. The exact indications for stent placement in benign strictures are still being emotionally debated amongst pulmonologists and surgeons [ 24 ], appear institution specific, but at least include airway compression from benign thyroid disease [ 25 ] and strictures from transplantation anastomoses [ 26 ].…”